Pet overpopulation can be prevented, says Iowa State University
veterinarian

AMES, Iowa -- Every eight to 10 seconds, an animal is euthanized because
there is no home available for it. This tragedy can be avoided, says an Iowa
State University veterinarian.

Dr. Kim Langholz, a community practice veterinarian at the ISU Veterinary
Teaching Hospital, says the birth rate for cats and dogs far exceeds the
birth rate for humans. That means animal shelters, humane societies and
other animal care organizations nationwide are swamped with unwanted
animals.

"It's sad but true," Langholz said. "Too many cats and dogs are
reproducing. And a tremendous number are being euthanized each year in this
country."

According to the Humane Society of the United States and the American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, between three and four
million cats and dogs are euthanized each year. And an equal number die from
injury, starvation or disease when they're released by owners who no longer
want them.

"To provide homes for all of the unwanted or homeless animals, every
family of four in the U.S. would need to have approximately eight dogs and
20 cats," she said. "Few households could manage 28 pets!"

A more realistic alternative is to spay and neuter.

"Our society needs to stop viewing cats and dogs as disposable items.
They are not broken TVs or old cell phones that we can throw out when we no
longer want them," Langholz said.

"Our taxes are paying the rising costs for public shelters to chase down
loose animals and then house, feed and care for them," she said.

"And for the caring people who work in animal shelters, the frequent and
repetitive demand for euthanasia of healthy animals is an unfair burden.
It's demoralizing for them to repeatedly perform this procedure," Langholz
said.

Langholz recommends that you do not let your cat or dog have 'just one
litter.' She also suggests other ways to help the pet overpopulation
situation:

Become educated on pet overpopulation.

Talk to family and friends about spaying and neutering their pets.

Consider becoming an advocate for tougher spay/neuter laws.

Adopt your next pet from the local humane society.

Sponsor a fundraising event to help cover costs for the spays/neuters of
pets owned by people on limited incomes.

Quick look

The birth rate for cats and dogs far exceeds the birth rate for humans. That
means animal shelters, humane societies and other animal care organizations
nationwide are swamped with unwanted animals. The answer is to spay and
neuter.

Quote

"Our society needs to stop viewing cats and dogs as disposable items. They
are not broken TVs or old cell phones that we can throw out when we no
longer want them."